Worldwide, the rainforest is cleared to create area for fields. Recently, the Amazon Basin was therefore in the headlines. In August, researchers registered 86,000 fires there. The region is not the only one in which fires destroy rainforest. Several satellite images show heavy smoke over the Indonesian island of Borneo in September. Sumatra is also affected.
Fires are not uncommon in the Indonesian islands in September and October. Over time, farmers are deliberately burning down agricultural and previously deforested land to create fertile soil for the next growing season. In Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, harvested fields and cleared rainforests mostly give way to new palm oil and acacia plantations.
Recently, the grubbings were comparatively moderate, reports Nasa. But this year again threatens a major fire situation. On 15 September, among other things, the earth observation satellite "Landsat 8" registered fires in several palm oil producing areas in southern Borneo. The picture below shows the picture. To highlight the fires, the colors were changed slightly.
NASA
By the end of August satellites had registered fires in the region. In the first weeks of September, however, they increased significantly. Experts in the region warn against health damage caused by the heavy smoke and high particulate matter pollution. According to local media reports, schools had to be closed and flights canceled.
This is also because many of the fires are located in regions with peat soils. They are often difficult to extinguish and smolder for months under the surface - until the next rainy season. The fires release large quantities of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane. These contribute significantly to the global rise in temperature, because they prevent heat from radiating from the earth into space.
Dangerous fine dust in the air
In addition, peat fires emit a lot of fine dust. Containing particles smaller than 2.5 microns are considered a health risk because they can penetrate deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream due to their size. You are suspected to cause respiratory problems and heart problems (read more here). Researchers are currently investigating the risks in detail.
NASA
Concentration of organic carbon via Borneo and Sumatra on September 17, 2019
The map above shows how much organic carbon hovered over Borneo and Sumatra in the air on September 17th. These particles also belong to the dangerous fine dust category. Scientists calculated the graph from satellite and weather data. Information from measuring stations on the ground has also been included in the analysis. Because the winds were weak, the particles stuck centrally above the fires.
How fires develop depends on the weather. In the past great fires of the year - 1997 and 2015 - the climate phenomenon El Niño Indonesia brought long dry periods. The fires could spread undisturbed. In 2019, El Niño has held back so far. However, another climatic constellation caused long periods of drought in September this year.
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Satellite image of the week: snapshots from space"In the middle of a major fire event"
"Indonesia is in the middle of a major fire event," says Robert Field of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He documents the Indonesian fire months for many years. The current season reminds of the bad fires in 2015, he says. In 2019, however, the fires would have spread later, because it had rained again in August.
"There are not quite as many fires as in 2015," continued Field. The number increase but in a similar speed as in the past heavy fire season. Fires that are smoldering in the ground are not yet factored in there.
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Environmental protection organizations are also raising the alarm. On Borneo and Sumatra live among other endangered orangutans. Above all, the dwindling rainforest troubles you. The fires exacerbate the situation.
